Damper for stamps, envelopes, and the like



Aug. 11, 1936. E. THOMAS 2,050,676

DAMPER FOR STAMPS, ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 8, 1955 INVENTOR ERNST THOMAS AT TOR N 5Y6 Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES 7 2,050,676 DAMPER FOR STAMPS, ENVELOPES,

AND THE; LIKE Ernst Thomas, Berlin, Germany Application November 8, 1935, Serial No. 48,812 In Germany December 30, 1933 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a utensil which serves for damping gummed surfaces such as on stamps, the flaps of envelopes and the like and is always ready for use.

The known utensils serving for the same purpose are open to the objection that their liquid dries quickly and on the other hand the absorbent stopper only conditionally and unreliably absorbs the liquid.

These objections are overcome according to the invention in that the liquid is accommodated in an hermetically closed vessel through the lid of which the handle of the damping pad extends, which in turn hermetically closes the aperture provided in the lid for its reception. The handle is mounted on a ring-shaped plate resting on a ring-shaped pad in the interior of the vessel so that, when pressure is exerted on the handle the pad is compressed and the liquid squeezed out therefrom enters the free space in the middle of the pad ring into which liquid the absorbent pad of the handle dips when the handle is depressed, so that this pad takes up more or less liquid according to the pressure exerted thereon without itself being compressed.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in part vertical section in the only figure of the accompanying drawing.

The vessel consists of a bottom a, which preferably has a depression :11 in the middle, and of a side wall D. A lid d provided with a central guide tube 1 is screwed onto the vessel by means of a screw thread 0.

A ring shaped pad 5;! for example of sponge rubber is accommodated in the vessel and on this pad rests a ring shaped plate h having a central aperture 2 and an annular flange is projecting upwardly from its edge. The flange k and the plate It have holes m. The internal diameter of the flange k is smaller than that of the guide tube f.

The handle 11. has a thickened lower end p which fits snugly in the guide tube 1 and a hollow foot r extending from the thick part p and in which a pad 8, preferably also of sponge rubher, is clamped.

When the handle is inserted in the tube 1 the lower edge of its thickened part p rests on the flange k of the plate h.

In order to make the damper ready for use, unscrew the lid (1, moisten the pad g and again screw on the lid.

If pressure is exerted on the handle the plate It is lowered and compresses the pad 9. Consequently, liquid is squeezed out of the pad g into the space t into which the pad 8 projects so that this absorbs liquid corresponding to the degree of pressure which has been exerted onto. the handle. If the handle 71. is pulled out of the tube 1, the moistened pad s can be used for damping the articles in question.

As soon as the pressure exerted on the handle decreases the pad ring 9 expands and reabsorbs the liquid which has not been absorbed by the pad 8.

The handle 11, has an extension 11 at its upper end which fits accurately in the tube 1, whereas at the lower end of this extension 1; a shoulder 10 is formed. If the handle is inverted and its top end :12 inserted into the vessel, its extension 0 fits in the tube 1 and the shoulder 10 bears against the upper end of the tube f. The pad s now extends upwards and can be used for damping stamps and the like.

I claim:--

1. A damper for stamps, envelopes and the like, comprising in combination a vessel closed on all sides, a ring-shaped moisture-delivering pad accommodated in said vessel, a ring-shaped plate resting on said ring-shaped pad, a handle removably inserted into said vessel and projecting from the upper side thereof and supported by said ring, said handle adapted to be depressed to move downwards said ring-shaped plate and compress said ring-shaped pad to squeeze the moisture from said pad into the space in the middle thereof, and a damping pad on the lower end of said handle adapted when pressure is exerted on said handle to enter the space in said ringshaped pad and absorb the liquid squeezed out therefrom.

2. In a damper as specified in claim 1 a lid screwed on to the top of the vessel, and a guide tube in the middle of said lid adapted to receive the handle which shuts off said tube from the atmosphere.

3. In a damper as specified in claim 1, a lid screwed on to the top of the vessel, a guide tube in the middle of said lid adapted to receive the handle which shuts off said tube from the atmosphere, and an annular flange projecting upwards from the inner circumference of the ring-shaped plate and forming a support for said handle the internal diameter of said flange being smaller than that of said guide tube.

4. In a damper as specified in claim 1, a lid screwed on to the top of the vessel, a guide tube in the middle of said lid adapted to receive the handle which shuts off said tube from the atmosphere, and an annular flange projecting upwards from the inner circumference of the ringshaped plate and forming a support for said handle the internal diameter of said flange being smaller than that of said guide tube and said plate and said flange being provided with holes.

5. In a damper as specified in claim 1, a lid screwed on to the top of the vessel, a guide tube in the middle of said lid adapted to receive the handle which shuts off said tube from the atmosphere, said handle comprising a thickened part on its lower end fitting in said guide tube, and a hollow foot on the lower end of said thickened part accommodating the damping pad.

6. In a damper as specified in claim 1, a. lid

screwed on to the top of the vessel, a guide tube in the middle of said lid adapted to receive the handle which shuts on said tube from the atmosphere, said handle having an extension on the upper end of a'diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of said tube and a shoulder under said extension and adapted to rest on said tube to support said handle so that the damping pad extends upwardly.

7. A damper as specified in claim 1, in which the bottom plate of the vessel has a central depression.

ERNST THOMAS. 

